adminFungai Lupande
Mashonaland Central Bureau
The Enactus Club, an entrepreneurial skills organisation, of Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) is now eyeing a US$1 million prize for converting their ideas to a commercial product through the July Global Accelerator competition stage in London, United Kingdom, after coming second in Mumbai, India.
Enactus (Entrepreneurial Action Us) is a non-profit educational organisation that works with business and higher education institutions to provide leadership and entrepreneurial skills. BUSE is the reigning national Enactus champion and the recent triumph at the Hult Prize Mumbai summit set an opportunity for the team to participate at the London competition.
The BUSE Enactus team comprises Last Baloyi, Takudzwa Haparimwe and Tinotenda Chitanda.
The three finished second at the Mumbai summit out of 68 teams drawn from 21 countries with their three projects: the organic bucket, poultry feed and mushroom-based water purification chemicals. An online panel of judges marked up the entries. BUSE Dean of Students, Dr Chrispen Mazodze, and his deputy, Mrs Dorothy Murasi, who accompanied the team to India, were delighted at the outstanding performance of the team.
“We are extremely proud of our students and what they achieved,” said Dr Mazodze.
“Their project reflects the positive impact of Education 5.0 which seeks to provide innovative solutions to contemporary challenges.”
Team captain Chitanda said the chance of winning US$1 million presents endless possibilities for the commercialisation of their organic bucket.
“The organic bucket provided a natural alternative to synthetic fertilisers. Given the cost of fertilisers and the subsequent negative effects of the soil, the liquid fertiliser produced by the organic bucket can transform lives and ensure sustainable land use,” he said.
“If we win the prize, it will transform our project into a commercial product that will impact the national economy as well as the lives of millions of people, not only in Zimbabwe but also in Africa.”
The Hult Prize challenges young people to solve the world’s most pressing issues through social entrepreneurship. Every year, one team receives US$1 million in funding to make their idea a reality after participating in a year-long competition which challenges young people to solve the world’s most pressing issues by creating innovative social ventures.
Furthermore, the BUSE Enactus team qualified for the Enactus World Cup in Astania, Kazakhstan after finishing in the top six of the Africa competition.
After submitting their project proposal virtually, together with 168 other teams from around the world, BUSE made it to the finals and booked their ticket to Astania.
This will mark a second successive appearance for the team after they represented Zimbabwe at the Enactus World Cup in the Netherlands in 2023.
Online Reporter